Chinnor Chalk Pit
{{Short description|UK Site of Special Scientific Interest}}
{{Infobox SSSI
|image= Chinnor, Flooded chalk quarry and SSSI - geograph.org.uk - 753155.jpg
|image_caption=
|name= Chinnor Chalk Pit
|aos= Oxfordshire
|interest= Geological
|gridref= {{gbmappingsmall|SU 757 997}}
|area= {{convert|20.4|ha|acre|abbr=off}}
|map=[https://magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx?startTopic=Designations&activelayer=sssiIndex&query=HYPERLINK%3D%271001670%27 Magic Map]
}}
Chinnor Chalk Pit is a {{convert| 20.4 |ha|acre|abbr=off |adj=on }} geological Site of Special Scientific Interest south of Chinnor in Oxfordshire.{{cite web|url= https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/SiteDetail.aspx?SiteCode=S1001670&SiteName=&countyCode=34&responsiblePerson=&SeaArea=&IFCAArea= |title=Designated Sites View: Chinnor Chalk Pit | series= Sites of Special Scientific Interest|publisher=Natural England|accessdate = 22 March 2020}}{{cite web|url= https://magic.defra.gov.uk/MagicMap.aspx?startTopic=Designations&activelayer=sssiIndex&query=HYPERLINK%3D%271001670%27|title=Map of Chinnor Chalk Pit|series= Sites of Special Scientific Interest|publisher=Natural England|accessdate= 22 March 2020}} It is a Geological Conservation Review site.{{cite web |url= http://archive.jncc.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=4174&gcr=199 |title= Chinnor Chalk Pit (Cenomanian, Turonian, Senonian, Maastrichtian) |series= Geological Conservation Review |publisher= Joint Nature Conservation Committee |accessdate= 26 February 2020 }}{{Dead link|date=December 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
This site is described by Natural England as "important for its excellent exposures of Totternhoe Stone", dating to the mid-Cenomanian stage of the Cretaceous period, around 100 million years ago. It has yielded many fossils of ammonites from the Lower and Middle Chalk.{{cite web |url= https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/PDFsForWeb/Citation/1001670.pdf |title=Chinnor Chalk Pit citation |series= Sites of Special Scientific Interest|publisher=Natural England |accessdate= 22 March 2020}}
Old Kiln Lakes
The site is private land with no public access. Much of the former chalk pit is flooded and now known as Old Kiln Lakes. The lakes are freshwater but highly alkaline. In the summer of 2012 the public was warned to stay away and not swim in the lakes.{{cite news |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-52874384 |title=Visitors to former quarry in Chinnor told to stay away |work=BBC News |date=1 June 2012 |accessdate=27 September 2020}}
However, fish including carp and tench have lived in the lake, and since the late 20th century a Chinnor Works Angling Society has had permission to fish the lakes.{{cite news |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-18378265 |title=Chinnor cement works lake fish 'will not survive' move |work=BBC News |date=9 June 2012 |accessdate=27 September 2020}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{coord| 51.691|-0.906 |type:landmark_region:GB-BNE|display=title}}
{{SSSIs Oxfordshire}}
Category:Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Oxfordshire